Cable plug

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are cable plugs for securing surgical cable to a bone plate. The cable plugs each have a cable retaining member and a fastening member. The cable retaining members each have a receiving portion adapted to receive a portion of the surgical cable therein. The cable retaining members are first coupled to the fastening members prior to securing the cable plug to the bone plate. The cable retaining member may rotate with respect to the fastening member about 270° along a longitudinal axis of the cable plug when the cable retaining member is coupled to the fastening member. When securing the surgical cable to the bone plate, the cable retaining member is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the cable plug until an axis of the receiving portion is parallel to an axis of the surgical cable. The surgical cable is then placed within the receiving portion, tightened, and crimped to secure the bone plate to the bone.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/649,249 filed Oct. 11, 2012, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems for coupling surgical cables tobone plates when reducing bone fractures or repairing fractured bones.More particularly, the invention relates to systems that utilize a cableretaining member, affixed to a bone plate, to receive and retain asurgical cable. In which, the surgical cable may be oriented withrespect to the bone at a plurality of angles relative to thelongitudinal axis of the bone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Surgical cables are used in many surgical procedures. They are generallyused to encircle the bone alone, or the bone and a bone plate, tofacilitate fixation of one or more bone fragments. Some bone fixationsystems that use surgical cable also use a bone plate having a lengthsufficient to span the bone fragments, fixation screws to couple thebone plate to the bone, adapters to couple the cable to the bone plate,and crimp devices for securing ends of the cable. In these systems, thesurgical cable is generally coupled to the bone or the bone plate at 90°from the longitudinal axis of the bone.

Because the surgical cable is wrapped around the bone and bone plate, asforces act on the cable, the cable may tend to move from its coupledposition with respect to the bone plate. As such forces act on thecable, a longitudinal axis of the cable will generally tend to be angledat less than 90° from the longitudinal axis of the bone. This may resultin shear stresses and strains in the surgical cable that cause the boneplate to shift relative to the bone.

Some fixation screws function to both couple the bone plate to bone andas a means for coupling the cable at a certain position along a lengthof the bone plate. If the fixation screws are used to couple the cableto the bone plate, the cable is generally received in a slot or bore ina head portion of the fixation screws. Such fixation screws also act asan adapter. The head portion of the fixation screws are generallyintegrally coupled to a shaft of the fixation screws but may be aseparate component that is coupled to the shaft of the fixation screws.

The adapters and fixation screws explained above generally function toprevent migration of surgical cable along a longitudinal axis of a boneplate. However, these systems do not provide a means of orienting thesurgical cable at an angle less than 90° from the longitudinal axis ofthe bone. Therefore, they cannot sufficiently eliminate the stresses andstrains in the surgical cable which may cause shifting of the boneplate.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention is a cable plug. The cable plug includes a cable retainingmember having a head portion, a shaft portion and a stopper member, thehead portion having a base surface and at least two receiving membersprojecting upwardly from the base surface for receiving a surgicalcable. The cable plug further includes a fastening member having a topsurface, a bottom surface, and an outer circumference, the fasteningmember having an opening to receive the shaft of the cable retainingmember and a boss in the opening. When the cable retaining member iscoupled to the fastening member, the cable retaining member is rotatablewith respect to the fastening member until the stopper member contactsthe boss of the fastening member. When surgical cable is received in theat least two receiving members of the cable retaining member, and thecable plug is assembled to a bone plate, the cable plug provides freedomto rotate the surgical cable without adding torque stresses to the plateand the bone that the plate contacts.

In accordance with one embodiment of this first aspect of the presentinvention, the at least two receiving members form a channel adapted toreceive a surgical cable therein. The surgical cable preferably includesa diameter and the at least two receiving members have oppositely facingsurfaces separated by a horizontal distance equal to or greater than thediameter of the surgical cable throughout a vertical length of the atleast two receiving members.

In accordance with another embodiment of this first aspect of thepresent invention, the surgical cable includes a diameter and the atleast two receiving members have oppositely facing surfaces separated bya horizontal distance equal to or greater than the diameter of thesurgical cable at the base surface of the head portion and less than thediameter of the surgical cable adjacent a top portion of the cable plug.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of this first aspect of thepresent invention, the cable retaining member includes two sets of atleast two receiving members, the two sets of at least two receivingmembers forming at least two channels adapted to receive surgical cabletherein.

In accordance with still yet another embodiment of this first aspect ofthe present invention, the cable retaining member includes one set of atleast two receiving members and a bore hole, the one set of at least tworeceiving members forming a channel, the bore hole extending through theat least two receiving members, wherein the channel and bore hole areeach adapted to receive surgical cable therein. Preferably, the diameterof the channel and bore hole are different such that each are configuredto receive a surgical cable with a different diameter.

In accordance with still yet another embodiment of this first aspect ofthe present invention, the cable retaining member includes an engagementrecess that is centrally located between the at least two receivingmembers, the engagement recess adapted to receive an insertion tool.

In accordance with yet still another embodiment of this first aspect ofthe present invention, the base surface of the cable retaining memberlies adjacent the top surface of the fastening member when the cableretaining member is coupled to the fastening member.

In accordance with yet still another embodiment of this first aspect ofthe present invention, the opening in the fastening member isirregularly shaped and includes a top portion adapted to receive thestopper member and a bottom portion adapted to receive the shaft of thecable retaining member when the cable retaining member is coupled to thefastening member. The top portion of the opening extends at least 90°about a longitudinal axis of the cable plug. Preferably, the top portionof the opening extends 270° about a longitudinal axis of the cable plug.

In accordance with yet still another embodiment of this first aspect ofthe present invention, the opening in the fastening member isirregularly shaped and includes a top portion shaped as a keyhole andadapted to receive the shaft and stopper member of the cable retainingmember therethrough and a bottom portion adapted to house the stoppermember when the cable retaining member is being rotated with respect tothe fastening member.

A second aspect in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention is a cable plug. The cable plug includes a cable retainingmember having a head portion and a shaft portion, the head portionhaving a base surface and at least two receiving members projectingupwardly from the base surface, the shaft portion extending downwardlyfrom the base surface. The cable plug further includes a fasteningmember having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outercircumference, the fastening member having an opening in the top surfaceadapted to receive the shaft of the cable retaining member. The cableplug further includes a stopper member engaged to the cable retainingmember, wherein when the cable retaining member is coupled to thefastening member, the cable retaining member may be rotated with respectto the fastening member in a first rotational direction about alongitudinal axis of the cable plug until the stopper member contacts afirst stop surface of the fastening member.

According to one embodiment of this second aspect, when the cableretaining member is operatively coupled to the fastening member, thecable retaining member may be rotated with respect to the fasteningmember in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotationaldirection about a longitudinal axis of the cable plug until the stoppercontacts a second stop surface of the fastening member.

A third aspect in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention is a method for securing a bone plate to a bone of a patient.The method includes inserting a cable plug into a hole in the boneplate, contacting the bone with the bone plate, and wrapping surgicalcable having a longitudinal axis around the bone and the bone plate. Themethod further includes rotating a cable retaining member of the cableplug about a longitudinal axis of the cable plug until a longitudinalaxis of a channel formed by at least two receiving members of the cableretaining member are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the surgicalcable, placing the surgical cable in the channel of the cable retainingmember, tightening the surgical cable until the bone plate is secured tothe bone, and crimping first and second ends of the surgical cable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the subject matter of the presentinvention and the various advantages thereof can be realized byreference to the following detailed description in which reference ismade to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a fixation system ofthe present invention showing a cable plug coupling a surgical cable toa bone plate.

FIG. 1B is a partial cross-section view of a portion of the fixationsystem shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a partial cross-section view of one embodiment of a cableplug coupled directly to a bone of a patient.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cable retainingmember of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a top view of the cable retaining member shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a top view of one embodiment of a fastening member of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the fastening member shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the cable retaining member ofFIGS. 2A-B and the fastening member of FIGS. 3A-B.

FIG. 5 is an assembled perspective view of the cable retaining memberand fastening member shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a cableretaining member of the present invention and the fastening member shownin FIGS. 3A-B.

FIG. 7 is an assembled perspective view of the cable retaining memberand fastening member shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the assembled cableretaining member and fastening member shown in FIG. 7 taken along lineA-A.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a cableretaining member of the present invention and the fastening member shownin FIGS. 3A-B.

FIG. 10 is an assembled perspective view of the cable retaining memberand fastening member shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the assembled cable retaining member andfastening member shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a cableretaining member of the present invention and the fastening member shownin FIGS. 3A-B.

FIG. 13 is an assembled perspective view of the cable retaining memberand fastening member shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled cable retainingmember and fastening member shown in FIG. 13 taken along line B-B.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cable retainingmember of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a fasteningmember of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an assembled perspective view of the cable retaining membershown in FIG. 15 and fastening member shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cable plug of thepresent invention having a cable retaining portion shown in FIGS. 7-8integrated with an embodiment of a fastening portion adapted for directinsertion into an aperture of a bone plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1A, there is shown a bone fixation system 100 engagedto a portion of a femur bone 12. Bone fixation system 100 includes asurgical cable 61 coupled to a bone plate 60 via a cable plug 10. Asshown in FIG. 1A, a surgical cable 61 is wrapped around femur bone 12just above the lesser trochanter, another surgical cable 61 is wrappedaround the femoral shaft just below the lower trochanter, and two moresurgical cables 61 are wrapped about the femoral shaft some distancebelow the lesser trochanter. In each instance, surgical cable 61 may bereceived and retained by cable plug 10 at a plurality of angles relativeto longitudinal axis of the bone.

FIG. 1B is a partial cross-section view of a portion of fixation system100 shown in FIG. 1A showing cable plug 10 located in an aperture ofbone plate 60 with bone plate 60 lying adjacent to a portion of femurbone 12. In reference to FIG. 1C, another embodiment of a cable plug 10is shown coupled directly to a portion of a bone of a patient without abone plate lying adjacent to the bone.

In a preferred embodiment, cable plug 10 comprises a cable retainingmember 20 as shown for example in FIGS. 2A-2B and a fastening member 40as shown for example in FIGS. 3A-3B. Referring to FIGS. 2A-2B, cableretaining member 20 includes a head portion 21, a base surface 22, and ashaft portion 30 extending downwardly from base surface 22. Head portion21 of cable retaining member 20 includes a cable receiving structuresuch as a channel or a bore hole. In a preferred embodiment, the cablereceiving structure is comprised of two cable receiving members 24, 25projecting upwardly from base surface 22. However, the cable receivingstructure described herein may also be formed by a single cablereceiving member, or by a plurality of such members. Cable receivingmembers 24, 25 each have an outer face 23. Outer faces 23 are preferablyconcave and are adapted to be grasped by fingers of a user such that thehead portion can easily be manipulated by hand.

As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, cable receiving members 24, 25 are preferablyseparated by a distance equal to or greater than the diameter ofsurgical cable 61 proximate base surface 22, yet separated by a distanceless than the diameter of surgical cable 61 proximate the top of headportion 21. In this configuration, the at least two cable receivingmembers 24, 25 form an upward facing channel 26 with a longitudinal axis27 that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 28 of shaft portion 30.Surgical cable 61 may then be placed by force, or by use of an insertiontool, into channel 26, as may be further adapted to retain surgicalcable 61 therein.

In this preferred embodiment, as shown particularly in FIG. 2A, astopper member 31 is integral with cable retaining member 20. Stoppermember 31 projects downwardly from base surface 22, outwardly from shaftportion 30 of cable retaining member 20, and preferably includes acurved outer surface 32 and a flat bottom surface 33. The distal end ofshaft 30 preferably includes a spherically shaped recess portion or borehole 34 adapted to receive a blocking member (not shown). As describedfully with reference to FIG. 8 below, the blocking member may beinserted into bore hole 34 as a means to secure cable retaining member20 to fastening member 40.

Referring to FIGS. 3A-3B, a preferred embodiment of fastening member 40includes a top surface 41, a bottom surface 42, an outer circumference43, and an opening 44 having a longitudinal axis 52. The opening 44preferably extends through top surface 41 and bottom surface 42 thereof.Opening 44 may be irregularly shaped, including a top portion 49 and abottom portion 51. In the preferred embodiment, top surface 41 has aboss 46 adapted to receive stopper member 31, and a bottom portion 51adapted to receive shaft 30 of cable retaining member 20. In thisembodiment, top portion 49 of opening 44 preferably terminates in aradial direction about longitudinal axis 52 at first stop surface 45Aand second stop surface 45B of boss 46, as shown particularly in FIG.3A. Top portion 49 of opening 44 extends at least 90° and preferablyapproximately 270° about longitudinal axis 52.

Referring to the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-5, cableretaining member 20 may be coupled to fastening member 40 to form cableplug 10 prior to insertion into a bone plate, such as bone plate 60.When coupled, cable plug 10 is preferably affixed to bone plate 60 usingouter circumference 43 configured with straight or tapered threads. Thisconfiguration permits rotation of cable retaining member 20 with respectto fastening member 40, in a first or second rotational direction, aboutlongitudinal axes 28 and 52. In accordance with this invention, surgicalcable 61 may therefore be retained within channel 26 of head portion 21and oriented at a plurality of angles relative to the bone.

In an alternate embodiment, cable retaining member 20 may also include aplurality of protrusions or recesses located around a circumferencethereof, the plurality of protrusions or recesses adapted to couple to aplurality of corresponding protrusions or recesses around acircumference of fastener member 40. This configuration permitsorientation of cable retaining member 20 with respect to fasteningmember about longitudinal axes 28 and 52. Similar to above, surgicalcable 61 may therefore be retained within channel 26 of head portion 21and oriented at a plurality of angles relative to the bone.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 6-7, cable receiving members 24A, 25Amay also be separated by a distance equal or greater to the diameter ofsurgical cable 61 proximate base surface 22A, and remain separated bysaid distance proximate the top of head portion 21A. Here also, the atleast two cable receiving members 24A, 25A form an upward facing channel26A with a longitudinal axis 27A that is perpendicular to a longitudinalaxis 28A of shaft portion 30A. In this embedment, channel 26A may befurther adapted to receive an insertion tool by inclusion of anengagement recess 35A in a hexagonal star shape as shown, or in anyother suitable shape.

As shown in FIG. 8, the distal end of shaft 30A preferably includes abore hole 34A adapted to receive a blocking member (not shown) onceshaft 30A has been passed through opening 44 of fastening member 40.Opening 44 is preferably irregularly shaped and includes a top portion49 an intermediate portion 50, and a bottom portion 51. The blockingmember may, for example, be comprised of an integral hemisphere ofdeformable material that is pushed back into bore hole 34A.Alternatively, the blocking member may be an external ball bearing of adiameter slightly larger than that of bore hole 34. To couple cablereceiving member 20C and fastening member 40, the blocking member isforcefully inserted into bore hole 34 after shaft 30A has passed throughopening 44 to increase the diameter of the distal end of shaft portion30A beyond the diameter of intermediate portion 50. The resultinginterference fit effectively secures cable retaining member 20A tofastening member 40 during insertion of cable plug 10 into bone plate60.

An alternate embodiment is shown in FIGS. 9-10, in which head portion21B of cable retaining member 20B includes two sets of at least twocable receiving members, 24B, 25B. Each of the two sets of at least twocable receiving members may remain separated by a distance equal orgreater to the diameter of surgical cable 61 throughout their respectivevertical lengths. In this configuration, cable receiving members 24B,25B form at least two upward facing channels, 26B′, 26B″, with a pair ofcorresponding longitudinal axes, 27B′, 27B″ that are both perpendicularto a longitudinal axis 28B of shaft portion 30B. In accordance with thisembodiment of the invention, surgical cable 61 may therefore be retainedwithin both channel 26B′ and 26B″ of head portion 21B and oriented aplurality of angles relative to the bone.

As shown in FIG. 11, the distal end of shaft 30B may also include a borehole 34B adapted to receive a blocking member (not shown). Similar tothe above description regarding FIG. 8, the blocking member may beinserted into bore hole 34B as a means to secure cable retaining member20 to fastening member 40.

FIGS. 12-13 depict yet another embodiment of a cable plug, such as cableplug 10C. In this embodiment, cable receiving members 24C, 25C form anupward facing channel 26C′, having a longitudinal axis 27C′, adapted tointersect with a channel bore 26C″, having a longitudinal axis 27C″.According to this embodiment, cable receiving members 24C, 25C, formchannel 26C′ and bore hole 26C″, both perpendicular to a longitudinalaxis 28C of shaft portion 30C. Surgical cable 61 may then be threadedinto bore hole 26C″ and further placed by force, or by use of aninsertion tool, into channel 26C′, either of which may be furtheradapted to retain surgical cable 61 therein. As shown, the intersectionof channel 26C′ and bore hole 26C″ may be further adapted to engage aninsertion tool by inclusion of recess 35C in a hexagonal star shape asshown, or in any other suitable shape.

As shown in FIG. 14, the distal end of shaft 30C may also include a band37, both of which are configured to be received in opening 44 offastening member 40. Opening 44 of fastening member 40 is preferablyirregularly shaped and includes a top portion 49 an intermediate portion50, and a bottom portion 51. Intermediate portion 50 has a diameter atleast slightly less than the diameter of band 37, and band 37 ispreferably made of a deformable material. To couple cable receivingmember 20C and fastening member 40, downward pressure is applied tocable receiving member 20C until band is fully located in bottom portion53C of opening 44. Pressing shaft portion 30C with band 37 into opening44 establishes an interference fit between cable receiving member 20Cand fastening member 40, thus ensuring that cable retaining member 20Cis secured to fastening member 40 during insertion of cable plug 10Cinto bone plate 60.

Referring to FIGS. 15-17, a stopper member 31D is preferably engaged toa distal end of shaft portion 30D, thus forming an “L” shape withrespect to base surface 22D. In this configuration, both top portion 49Dand bottom portion 51D of opening 44D are adapted to receive both shaftportion 30D and stopper member 31D through a keyhole 50D. Bottom portion51D of opening 44D terminates in a radial direction about longitudinalaxis 52D at first stop surface 45A′ and second stop surface 45B′ of boss46D. Similar to above, bottom portion 51D of opening 44D extends atleast 90° and preferably approximately 270° about longitudinal axis 52D,as shown particularly in FIG. 16.

In yet another embodiment, cable plug 10 comprises a variation of cableretaining members 20, 20A, 20B, 20C, or 20D, as shown for example inFIG. 4, 6, 9, 12 or 15, adapted for direct insertion into bone plate 60.All the features of opening 44, 44D with top portion 49, 49D and bottomportion 51, 51D, are milled, or otherwise formed, into bone plate 60 soas to permit cable retaining members 20, 20A, 20B, 20C, or 20D to becoupled directly with bone plate 60. In accordance with this embodiment,surgical cable 61 can thus be retained within head portions 21, 21A,21B, 21C, or 21D of cable retaining member 20, 20A, 20B, 20C, or 20D ata plurality of angles relative to the bone.

Alternatively still, as shown in FIG. 18, cable plug 10E may comprise acable retaining portion 20E integrated with a fastening portion 40E in amonoblock assembly. This embodiment may include any variation of thecable retaining member discussed above. Outer circumference 43E ispreferably threaded and broken by one or more slots 48E. The monoblockassembly of cable retaining portion 20E and fastening portion 40E ispressed into bone plate 60 until base surface 22E lies adjacent to thetop of bone plate 60. Similar to above, this configuration permitsrotation of cable retaining portion 20E, with respect to bone plate 60,in a first or second rotational direction, about longitudinal axis 52E.In accordance with this embodiment, surgical cable 61 may therefore beretained within head portion 21E of cable retaining portion 20E andoriented a plurality of angles relative to the bone.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodimentsare merely illustrative of the principles and applications of thepresent invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that otherarrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as described by the appended claims.

1. A cable plug comprising: a cable retaining portion for receiving asurgical cable therein; and a fastening portion disposed from the cableretaining portion along a longitudinal axis of the cable plug, thefastening portion having an exterior surface broken by one or moreslots, the exterior surface having a thread such that the fasteningportion can be threaded into a hole in a bone plate.
 2. The cable plugof claim 1, wherein the cable retaining portion has a base surface andat least one cable receiving member projecting upwardly from the basesurface.
 3. The cable plug of claim 2, wherein the at least one cablereceiving member comprises at least one channel formed therein, the atleast one channel being adapted to receive a portion of a cable therein.4. The cable plug of claim 1, wherein the exterior surface of thefastening portion is broken by first and second slots defining first andsecond exterior surface portions configured to move toward and away fromthe longitudinal axis.
 5. The cable plug of claim 4, wherein the firstand second surface portions each have a portion of the thread.
 6. Thecable plug of claim 4, wherein movement of the first and second exteriorsurface portions with respect to the longitudinal axis allows the cableplug to be press-fit or threaded into the hole of the bone plate.
 7. Thecable plug of claim 1, wherein the fastening portion permits rotation ofthe cable plug with respect to the bone plate in a first or oppositesecond rotational direction about the longitudinal axis when the cableplug is in the hole of the bone plate.
 8. The cable plug of claim 1,wherein the cable retaining portion is integral with the fasteningportion.
 9. The cable plug of claim 1, wherein the cable retainingportion has an engagement recess adapted to receive an insertion tool.10. A cable plug comprising: a cable retaining portion for receiving asurgical cable therein; and a fastening portion disposed from the cableretaining portion along a longitudinal axis of the cable plug, thefastening portion having a deflectable sidewall and a thread on anexterior surface of the sidewall such that the fastening portion can bethreaded into a hole in a bone plate.
 11. The cable plug of claim 10,wherein the deflectable sidewall and the thread are broken by one ormore slots such that at least one portion of the sidewall is moveablerelative to at least another portion of the sidewall.
 12. The cable plugof claim 11, wherein each of the one or more slots define a plane thatis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable plug.13. The cable plug of claim 10, wherein the fastening portion forms ahollow annulus about the longitudinal axis.
 14. The cable plug of claim10, wherein the deflectable sidewall and the thread are broken by aplurality of slots so as to define a plurality of sidewall portions,each sidewall portion being configured to move toward and away from thelongitudinal axis.
 15. The cable plug of claim 10, wherein the cableretaining portion is integral with the fastening portion.
 16. The cableplug of claim 10, further comprising at least one cable receiving memberprojecting upwardly from a base surface of the cable retaining portionso as to receive a portion of a cable therein.
 17. A method forassembling a cable plug with a bone plate having a hole, the cable plughaving a cable receiving portion disposed from a fastening portion alonga longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of: placing afastening portion of the plug adjacent the hole, the fastening portionhaving a broken sidewall with a plurality of sidewall portions and atleast a portion of a thread on an exterior surface of each sidewallportion; and applying a force to the cable receiving portion of thecable plug to thread the fastening portion into the hole.
 18. The methodof claim 17, wherein an interior surface of the hole is threaded, themethod further comprising applying a rotational force to the cablereceiving portion so as to unthread the fastening portion out of thehole.
 19. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving a portionof an insertion tool in an engagement recess formed in the cableretaining portion.
 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising thesteps of: contacting a bone with the bone plate; wrapping a cable havinga longitudinal axis around the bone and the bone plate; rotating thecable plug about the longitudinal axis of the cable plug until a cableretaining member formed on a base surface of the cable retaining potionis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cable; receiving the cablein the cable retaining member; tightening the cable until the bone plateis secured to the bone; and crimping first and second ends of the cableto secure the cable.